Rotary drum cheese grater



p 1949- J. ORLANDO ROTARY DRUM CHEESE GRATER Filed April 30, 1949 l N V E N T O R Jose 0k Orlando B Y Patented Sept. 6, 1949 ROTARY DRUM CHEESE GRATER Joseph Orlando, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Substituted for application Serial No. 635,716, December 18, 1945. This application April 30, 1949, Serial No. 90,743

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a cheese grinder, and in particular to a home or portable cheese grinder. This is a substitute for my abandoned application, filed on December 18, 1945, Serial Number 635,716..

The purpose of this invention is to provide a cheese grinder which is adapted for home use and which is portable and adapted to be readily transported from one place to another. The previous cheese grinders have been relatively large and heavy machinery adapted for only permanent or semi-permanent installation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cheese grinder of relatively small size, and yet one which is capable of performing a fully satisfactory job.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an efficient and satisfactory home cheese grinder.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a cheese grinder which is adapted to be easily carried from one place to another with a minimum of inconvenience.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and. advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cheese grinder according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the grinder shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2--2.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cheese propelling block according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, illustrating the operation thereof.

The cheese grinder Ill shown in Fig. 1 is mounted in a small and compact case I! which preferably measures about twelve inches or less in its longest dimension. This is deliberately constructed in a minimum of space, preferably of light materials such as, for example, aluminum, magnesium, and alloys of these and other light metals, as well as plastics and other synthetic resins, composition boards, or the like.

Within this case H is mounted a motor 13, for example, a small electric motor, a spring motor, or the like, operating grinding or cutting blades M through shaft l5. Below these blades M is positioned a drawer l2, or the like adapted to receive the ground cheese and to provide for the removal thereof. Positioned above the blades I4 is a cheese propelling block l6 which serves to force the cheese against the blades. The blades l4, block l6 and drawer l2 are optionally enclosed and separated from the remainder of the operating parts of the grinder by walls 21' (see Fig. 2) which prevent scattering and loss of the cheese, and which prevent contamination thereof.

The block it, according to this embodiment is a relatively heavy rectangular block adapted to weigh heavily on cheese positioned therebelow, thereby strongly forcing it downwards.

The top of the grinder is suitably and satisfactorily provided with a suitcase type handle 58 by means of which it is readily adapted to be portable.

In Fig. 2, the inner construction of the grinder I0 is illustrated. The motor 13 is conventionally mounted on the left hand wall [9 of the grinder by means ofscrews 20 or the like. Extending from the motor and rotated thereby is a drive shaft l5 which is journalled in bearings 2i supported on posts 22, and which optionally terminates in and is further supported by end bearing 23 mounted on the opposite wall. The drive shaft is operably connected to a cutting or blade assembly M which is adapted to grind the cheese into small particles. The blade assembly may suitably be any one of a number of cutting and grinding means such as, for example, rotary blades, a rotary cylindrical roughened surface, reciprocating blades, or the like. As a matter of convenience, and to avoid complicating the drawings with a multitude of figures which would serve only to cloud the true nature of the invention, these blades are shown only as a rotary roughened surface.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, there is no power drive operably connected to the cheese propelling block, and accordingly the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 differs therefrom in that such a power drive is herein illustrated. Power is supplied to this block [6 through worm gear 23 mounted on drive shaft I5 and through bevelled gears 24 and power shafts 25 and end bearing 26. The gear ratio is so selected (as indicated by the choice of a worm gear for the purpose) that the block is caused to move slowly downward While the blades are rotating or vibrating comparatively rapidly.

In Fig. 2, the drawer l2 which is slidably positioned in the walls I! surrounding the cutting and feed portions of the machine, is partially filled with ground cheese 31) which has been removed from the cut of cheese 30 positioned between the blades l4 and the cheese propelling block l6.

Fig. 3 shows a relationship of parts according to which the cheese propelling block I6 is forced against the cheese 30. This apparatus, which may be replaced by other devices familiar to those skilled in the art, comprises a gear 21 mounted on shaft 25 and having teeth 28 adapted to engage with track 29 mounted on the block I6.

In all figures a chamber 3| between the cutting blades M and block [6 is adapted to receive a piece of cheese optionally about A; or /2 pound, thereby adapting and limiting the machine to non-commercial use.

In the use and operation of the cheese grinder, the cheese propelling block I6 is removed'and a cut of cheese 30 is inserted. The cheese propelling block is then placed on the top of the cheese and the power in motor I3 is turned on. Blades M are thereby driven, and the coaction between these moving blades and the force of block [6 propelling the cheese against the block causes the cheese to be rapidly ground.

When the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is used, wherein the cheese propelling block is positively driven against the cheese, this block is removed either by releasing this block from the driving gear 21 by conventional means not shown in the drawings or by reversing the direction of motor 13. The cheese is then introduced and the machine operated as before.

The new machine is rapid and eflicient, and is readily portable. It may be used, and immediately placed in a small, out of the way place where it can be stored until it is once again used. It is economical to use and operate, and is in all ways adapted'for home use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the 4 right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A portable cheese grinder, comprising a housing provided with opposing vertical walls having circular openings therein, a drum having external helical cheese cutting means disposed horizontally between the vertical walls with its ends projecting into the openings thereof, a shaft extending through the drum, bearings for supporting the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, the shaft having a worm thereon located outwardly of said walls, a vertical shaft having a worm gear engaging the worm, a cheese feeding block positioned between the side walls directly over the drum, a gear toothed rack on said feeding block, a horizontal shaft having a gear to engage said rack, and gearing between the vertical shaft and said last-named horizontal shaft, whereby the feeding block will be forced downwardly to increase pressure on cheese positioned over the drum at the same time the drum is rotated.

JOSEPH ORLANDO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 445,769 Chamberlain Feb. 3, 1891 622,048 Hunsinger Mar. 28, 1899 719,881 Samuelson Feb. 3, 1903 1,027,218 Shaver May 21, 1912 1,600,123 Milici et al Sept. 14, 1926 2,208,335 Kurtz July 16, 1940 

